3
The variety of the animal world
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 14–17
GoalKnow the animal world (fauna) and zoology, say how animals differ from plants, and tell vertebrates from invertebrates.
New words
fauna, the animal world · faunavertebrate (with a backbone) · umurtqalisense organs · sezgi a’zolari
Explanation
There are more than a million animal species on Earth, from tiny insects to giant whales. The animal world is called fauna and it is studied by zoology. Unlike plants, animals cannot make food themselves, so they eat ready-made food and move to find it. They have sense organs (eyes, ears, nose) and a brain. Vertebrates have a backbone and an inner skeleton: fish, birds, mammals. Invertebrates have no backbone: insects, spiders, slugs, jellyfish.
Worked examples
Fish, bird, horse and human are vertebrates; ant, spider and slug are invertebrates.
A zebra’s stripes are thought to help protect it from biting flies.
Class activity
“Two groups” table: draw two columns in your notebook, “vertebrate” and “invertebrate”. Name eight animals in class and place them in the table. If it is hard, ask “Does it have an inner bone?”
Practice
1
What is the animal world called and which science studies it?
fauna; zoology
2
How do animals differ from plants?
They cannot make food, eat ready-made food, move, and have sense organs and a brain.
3
Which is a vertebrate: fish, slug, spider?
fish
4
Why do animals need a brain?
The brain controls the body’s organs and reacts quickly to changes around.